Ear-ring mounting.



R A. KLINE..

EAR RlNG MOUNTING.

APPLICATION FILED APR-10. 1917- ma M K d I m m h 3% a M". w E 1 5 2 6 2, 1

RAYMOND A. KLINE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

EAR-RING MOUNTING.

Application filed April 10,1917. Serial No. 160,921.

To all whom it may concern: 4 I

Be it known-that I, RAYMOND A. KLIN E, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, county and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Ear-Ring Mounting, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an ear-ring mounting and relates, more particularly, to an improved attaching or clamping device whereby jewels, pendants or other ornaments may be suspended from the lobe of the ear in a simple and efficient manner and with comfort to the wearer and yet obviate the necessity of extending any part thereof directly through a pierced hole in the ear.

Devices of this general character have long been employed, and usually embody a clamp provided with an adjusting screw having a knob at one end thereof. This adjusting screw is adapted to be rotated to engage with one surface of the ear lobe, While the other surface is engaged by a stationary part of the clamp, whereby the ear lobe is pinched or clamped between the adjusting screw and the stationary part of the clamp, While such constructions serve to properly maintain the ear-ring upon the ear against inadvertent displacement, they are open to a serious disadvantage in that the knob of theadjusting screw rotates with the screw, and, if there is the least sharpness or roughness on the knob, the ear lobe,

which is naturally particularly sensitive and delicate, becomes abraded or cut. As many of the cheaper ear-rings are merely gold plated over brass or some other base metal, the breaking of theskin of the ear subjects the same to infection with the result that not infrequently blood poisoning, painful, abscesses or unsightly eruptions develop, frequently necessitating medical aid, and rendering the wearing of the ear-ring impossible until the wound is healed.

Various expedients have been resorted to with a view to overcoming these disadvantages, but such expedients are expensive to manufacture, are cumbersome and unsightly in appearance and, while some of them, in a measure, overcome the cutting of the lobe of the ear by the adjusting screw, they have other inherent disadvantages, so have not been used to any appreciable extent.

With the foregoing in mind, the object of the present invention is to provide an ear- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 9, 19118.

ring which will effectually preclude abrasion or cutting of the lobe of the ear. may be readily applied by the wearer. will properly grip the ear to preclude its inadventent displacement, and will, moreover, be extremely simple in construction, of sightly and csthetic appearance, economical to manufacture, and efficient in the carrying out of its functions.

Features of V the invention, other than those specified, will be apparent from the hereinafter detailed description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawlngs.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated on an enlarged scale, in the interest 0f clearness, one practical embodiment of the invention, but the construction shown therein is to beunderstood as illustrative, only, and not as defining thelimits of the invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an earring embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 ,is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1, and v Fig. 3is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring .to the drawings, A designates the usual yoke to "the free end of one arm of which is secured a head a, interiorly threaded to receive the stem 5 of an adjusting screw B provided atits inner end, with an enlargement 6, usually in the form of a knob. The other arm of the yoke supports, at its free end, another head C. one surface 0 of which faces the knob 6. Also mounted on the head C, but extending outwardly from the yoke, is a post cupon which is adapted to be mounted a gem or other desired ornament (not shown).

The construction thus far described is that of one Well known type of'ea1L'-ring, the entire structure constituting, in effect, a clamp, whereby the lobe of the ear may be clamped between the face 0 of the head C and the knob b of the adjusting screw B. through the manipulation of the latter in the manner well known and universally practised.

In adapting the present invention to an ear-ring of this character, a leaf-spring ,D is employed, a portion of which spring is shaped to conform to the inner contour of the yoke, being secured thereto, as at (Z, in any suitable way, shown as soldering, for the purpose of rigidly securing one end of said leaf-spring to the yoke. The other In applying an ear-ring of the present invention, the lobe of the ear is introduced between the surface 0 and the free end of the leaf-spring D, while the ad ustlng screw is in the retracted position shown in dottedlines in Fig. 1. After the yoke has been positioned to straddle the lobeof the ear the adjusting screw is manipulated to advance the knob 1) toward the surface 0, and, in so doing, said knob engages wlth the outer face of the leaf-spring and forces said leaf-spring against the tension thereof into engagement with the lobe of the ear, effectually gripping the ear between the surface 0 and the leaf-spring. It wlll be manifest that during this operation the leaf-spring lies intermediate the ear and the knob b so that the latter does not, at any time, come into contact with the skin. To preclude any abrasion of the skin by the leaf-spring, it is sha ed with free-flowing curves, and the portion thereof which engages with the ear is preferably wider than the remaining portions of its extent, and is bulged inwardlyso as to present arounded-over surface to the ear. This not only renders the ear-ring more comfortable to wear, but provides a dished surface against which the knob b operates, thereby precluding the leaf-spring D from slipping 0d of the knob 12, by ateral shifting of. said spring, when the latter is advanced.

In removing the ear-ring from the ear the adjusting screw B is retracted, and during the consequent retraction of the knob b, it is closely followed by the leaf-spring, because of the resiliency of the latter. The

leaf-spring D, automatically moving free from engagement with the lobe of the car during the detaching operation, b virtue of the tension placed upon said spring during the attaching operation, precludes any binding of the parts of the ear-ring with the lobe of the ear after the adjusting screw has been retracted. The ear-ring may then be readily removed without any discomfort whatsoever, and without fear of abrading or cutting the skin.

It will be manifest from the foregoing description that the abrading or cutting of the lobe of the car through the attachment, detachment, or wearing of an ear-ring are entirely obfiated by this invention in the most simple and highly efficient manner. There are absolutely no adjustments required in the manufacture of the ear-ring, no chance of the structure getting out of order, and the free portion of the leaf spring is so extensive that said spring is.

not, at any time, placed under such excessive strain as would cause it to loseits resiliency or become bent.

lin showing the presentinvention, 1 have chosen to illustrate the same as associated with one well known type of ear-ring, but it will be understood that this invehtion is not limited to use with the specific type of ear-ringshown. It may be readily adapted for use with many other types of earrings wherein the lobe of an ear is adapted to be gripped between a fixed and movable member. derstood that the present invention is not limited to the illustrative showing made, but. is as broadly novel as is commensurate with the appended claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An ear-ring embodying a yoke, a leafspring rigidly secured at one of its ends to the yoke near the base thereof and extending longitudinally of said yoke and between the portion of the leaf-spring which engages with the car being convex on its face which comes in contact with the skin and concave on its other face to preclude abrasion or cutting of the ear and simultaneously prevent lateral movement of said spring relative to the adjusting screw, when acted upon by the latter.

2. An ear-ring embodying a yoke, one arm of which provides a stationary abutment, a substantially ogee-shaped leaf-spring, one end of which is curved to-substantially correspond to the base of the yoke, and is securedv thereto, and theother end of which spring is reversely curved in the direction of the abutment, extends upwardly past the same, and is provided near its free end with an enlarged portion having a convex face juxtaposed with the abutment of the yoke, and an adjusting screw, threaded through the arm of the yoke opposite the abutment, provided with an enlarged head engaging with the leaf-spring for the purpose of clampin the lobe of an ear between the convex portlon of the leaf-spring and the abutment when the screw is operated.

3. An ear-ring embodying a yoke, one arm of which provides a stationary abutment, a

leaf-"spring rigidly secured near the base ofspring, in the direction of the abutment for the purpose of clamping the lobe of an ear therebetween.

4. An ear-ring embodying a yoke provided with an abutment, a leaf-spring rigidly secured at one of its ends to the yoke and extending to a position forwardly of the abutment, an adjusting screw threaded through the yoke for forcin said leaf-spring, against its tension, in the direction of the abutment to clamp the lobe of an ear between the leafspring and said abutment, and means mount- .ed on the yoke for supporting an ornament thereon. 1

5. An ear-ring embodying a yoke, a leafspring rigidly secured at one of its ends to longitudinally of said yoke and between the arms thereof, and provlded with an enlarged free end, andan adjusting screw threaded. through one arm of the yoke and provided with an enlarged head adapted to engage with the back face of the enlarged end of the leaf-spring for the purpose of forcing said leaf-spring toward the other arm of the yoke, whereby the lobe of an ear may be clamped between the enlarged end of the leaf-spring and said other arm of the yoke.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

- RAYMOND A. KLINE. 

